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Baek pitches today

Baek’s had a great spring training. Despite the headline at MLB.com (“Watch live as Baek makes case for rotation”) there’s just no way his performance against the Angels today (at one) could get him to crack the rotation unless coupled with an unrelated injury to one of the starters.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know I like Baek, especially in that I’d rather throw a 5th starter job to someone like him over spending $kajillion to fill it with an inferior option. I still can’t bring myself to cheer for an injury to get him a chance, though.

Comments

I really wish there were more spring games on TV. MLB.TV is great and all, but 52 inches is better than 19.

Happy Easter.

Mat on
March 23rd, 2008 11:24 am

I still canâ€™t bring myself to cheer for an injury to get him a chance, though.

Whether you cheer for it or not, the odds are very, very good that the Mariners will need a sixth starter at some point during the year. As long as Baek keeps performing well, he’ll wind up contributing to the Mariners at some point this year.

I think one of the more overlooked points of roster construction is that teams need to think more than five deep in the rotation. Every now and then a miracle occurs, but the odds are quite good that someone gets injured or is ineffective. Over the last 5-6 years, there are usually about 180 pitchers (or 6 per team) that get at least 10 starts and about 230 pitchers (or 7.7 per team) that get at least 5 starts.

shortbus on
March 23rd, 2008 11:38 am

I’ve always given the M’s the benefit of the doubt because of what Mat says. You’d better have an option if someone in the rotation gets hurt. If you have a hole in your rotation during the offseason and you fill it with the only minor-leaguer that’s ready to step in…you’re out of luck if someone gets hurt. And if you bring in a veteran, it’s impossible for them to be sent to AAA, so it’s the Baek’s of the world that get the shaft and end up in the minors while a potentially worse veteran takes the 5 spot on the big club. I hope Baek gets his money and a rotation spot with someone next season in free agency.